373. Living in New York brought many flavorful experiences with bakeries, restaurants and bagel shops around every corner. The fresh bread, daily-made bagels and any type of pastry your heart's desire at your whim and wish. One of those bakeries, with the very best Italian Rainbow Cookies, was Country Boy Bakery in Long Beach, New York. They would even make a Rainbow Cookie Cake that the Head Baker, Morris would make for his daughter for her Birthday every year.
If you love almond, chocolate and a cake-like texture with a slight sweetness, this is a cookie to try.
I made Rainbow Cookies and was delighted at the process involved. First the three separate cake-like layers, colored to create the Italian flag colors.
Then the spreading of toppings layering of each level. One level with Raspberry seedless jam and the other with Apricot jam.
Next, stacking them carefully. The suggestion was to place something weighted on top to press the layers together. This is important for the cookie to be compact for easier cutting. I used a marble slab on top which was the perfect size of my baking pan and the cakes. And this was then topped with melted chocolate.
A similar recipe is this Taste of Home recipe. It is tried and true but you will just need to commit to the process and not be in a hurry. Perfection is not the goal here but patience and seeing the recipe through. The edges are uneven but you only need to use a long knife to trim them lengthwise. Cutting with a hot knife helps the process. A cold knife bends the cake
You will be so proud of your accomplishment. And the flavors...MMMmmmmmm, so good!
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This recipe could be colored in so many different varieties, i.e.: Red, White and Blue, your team colors, Orange, Green and White for St. Patricks Day, or any colors you choose. I have seen one Rainbow Cookie made with White, Chocolate and Orange colors where one layer of cake was chocolate and Orange Marmalade was used. Be creative...incorporate your favorite flavors and colors. Make it your own.
"My grannies would both bake things like cookies and shortbreads. I think whenever I smell those kinds of things, it really takes me back to my childhood. ~ Curtis Stone, Australian Celebrity Chef
"Baking can be done with a few simple ingredients, so it's about simplicity and nostalgia - people are reminded of their childhood." ~ Paul Hollywood, Chef, The Great British Bakeoff Presenter